• Home
  • About Jean
    • Philosophy of Learning
    • Areas of Expertise
    • Skills
    • Work Experience
  • Publications
  • Designers Toolkit
    • Great Assignments Toolkit
  • Watercolor
  • Blog
  • Jean on Twitter
  • Upcoming Conference Presentations
  • Conference Presentations
    • Training and eLearning Presentations
    • Literacy Presentations
    • Ministry Training
  • Ask Jean
  • Work Samples
Applestar Productions

Learning about learning

New Hire Orientation

1/12/2015

1 Comment

 
Each day holds a surprise. But only if we expect it can we see, hear, or feel it when it comes to us. Let's not be afraid to receive each day's surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy. It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity.

Henri Nouwen
Picture
What kinds of things must be considered when a new staff member joins our team?
Over the course of my career, I have written a bunch of new hire orientations (NHO). I'm even writing a class on writing NHOs. Call it Onboarding or New Employee Orientation or what you want, it's always the process of acculturation of someone on the outside to the inside.

Today, I sit in the coffee shop of a new company, having been through the interview process and reviewed the eLearning benefits module and the history of the company. I'm thinking about the feelings of a new hire. There is anticipation about what's ahead. There is apprehension about all of the unknowns. There is eagerness about what is brought and looking to dig in and get started.

As trainers, we need to remember that before we immerse people in the new culture and the zillion facts what makes up most orientations. We need to help people relax and connect. We also need to answer their questions. Perhaps a useful activity would be to start with a Post-It activity and let the new staff list their questions to get them on the table and review them throughout the day.

We are the experts in the culture and facts, but they are the experts in whatever they bring to the table. Let's validate that.

It's also really important that the team makes the new hire welcome. I once started a job and the day I arrived, there was no orientation. There was also no place for me to sit, no computer for me to use, and no log ins prepared. I wondered, "Have I shown up on the wrong day?" That was indicative of the chaos that ruled that organization, and should have been a warning sign to me. In contrast, I started at another organization, and there was a welcome poster in my cube signed by all the members of the team. There was a picture directory with names and titles of the people on the department. There was a team breakfast prepared for a little social time before the orientation session. During the break, my new boss took me to lunch. I felt like a welcome guest rather than an intruder.


Sure, we need to deal with all kinds of paperwork when an employee begins at a new company, but let's not forget that the employee is a person longing for connection and reassurance that they have made the right choice to work with us. Let's start them off feeling like a valued team member so they can get to the business of what they were hired for, and help our company's success.

1 Comment
Sonia H link
5/30/2022 07:59:45 am

Grreat read thanks

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Jean Marrapodi

    Teacher by training, learner by design.

    Archives

    January 2018
    July 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    July 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014

    Categories

    All
    Active Learning
    Assessment
    Bible
    Christmas
    Conferences
    Customer Service
    Design
    ELearning
    Learning
    Learning Theory
    Maker Movement
    Needs Assessment
    Performance Consulting
    Rebels
    Reflections
    SMEs
    Talent Development
    Talent Management
    Training
    Writing

    RSS Feed

Conference
​Resources

​Training/elearning
Literacy
Ministry.
Upcoming Events

Company
Info

About
Experience
Philosophy
Contact

Jean's
​Writing

Publications
Blog
Twitter Feed
© COPYRIGHT 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.